Ascension of The Unholy Immortal

The woman raised her delicate hand, and with a faint shimmer of light, all the jade scrolls floated from Elder Hue's grasp and settled gently into her palm. She scanned through them leisurely, her expression remaining indifferent—until a flicker of amusement touched her otherwise cold and flawless face.

Seeing that fleeting shift, Elder Hue couldn't help but muse inwardly:

Such a beautiful woman… even her smallest gestures carry a weight hard to define. Is she truly mortal?

Yet he dared not linger on the thought for long.

The woman remained silent for a time, as though pondering something. Then, without a word, she drew a single jade scroll from within her flowing robes. Pressing her fingers lightly against it, she imparted a few arcane words, their meaning obscured by a veil of spiritual energy. Once inscribed, the scroll glowed faintly and then shot through the air, landing gently into Elder Hue's hands.

He caught it instinctively, surprise flashing in his eyes. He opened his mouth, unsure whether to ask a question or offer thanks—but before he could utter a word, the woman waved her hand with quiet finality.

"You may leave."

That simple phrase was infused with an undeniable authority. Even without releasing her full aura, the pressure she exuded made Hue's heart tremble faintly. He lowered his head and offered a respectful bow.

"Yes, Senior. This one will take his leave."

Without another word, he turned and left, his footsteps swift yet composed, not daring to linger even a breath longer.

After his presence vanished from the chamber, the woman sat in silence once more. Then, with a graceful motion of her hand, the jade scrolls lifted into the air. One by one, they vanished into streaks of light, shooting off in various directions like stars scattered by divine will.

Strangely, none remained.

Not even one was kept for herself.

As the last scroll disappeared over the horizon, a faint smile curved her lips—unreadable and slightly bitter.

It seemed… she was not invited.

***

Time passed quickly, and before long, a year had flown by. By that time, Elder Hue had completed delivering most of the invitations.

"Sigh, here I thought reaching the Divine Level would be something to be proud of," he muttered.

Over the past year, he had visited many powerful experts. Most were around his own level, but a few were Void Return Realm cultivators. Encountering them not only broadened his horizons but also shifted his focus toward something greater.

Beneath the Eighth Order, all beings are but ants.

Elder Hue had just become a Divine Level Paragon, yet now he was already seeking the path beyond — the Cosmic Resonation Realm.

Similar to the Void Return Realm, the Cosmic Resonation Realm marked a qualitative transformation in the nature of True Runes. It was the stage where the Divine Rune, born from the fusion of True Runes and Essence, became truly complete.

What did this mean?

It was the process of fusing multiple Divine Sparks into a single, unified Spark, and merging it with the Divine Rune — a process known as Divinity Ignition. In some ways, it resembled the transition from Void Transformation to Void Return, though the latter was considered only a partial ignition. Yet, in essence, the concepts were strikingly alike.

Still, Hue knew the distance between him and that stage was like the gap between heaven and earth.

He shook his head, clearing the ambitious thoughts from his mind. Now wasn't the time to fantasize about Cosmic Resonation. First, he had to finish his current task.

There were still a few final invitations left—one of them addressed to a figure even Elder Hue dared not think lightly of.

"That's troublesome," he muttered with a bitter smile. The next invitation was one personally prepared by Liang.

Without delay he traveled swiftly through the vast expanse of the Heaven Fortune Domain, the jade scroll safely stored within his robes. His aura remained restrained, yet even so, wherever he passed, cultivators of various sects and clans could not help but glance in awe. A half-step Cosmic Resonation expert was not a figure to take lightly.

Before long, the towering headquarters of the Starry Sky Alliance came into view—an imposing fortress that seemed to pierce the very heavens. Its grand gates shimmered with layers of protective formations.

As Elder Hue approached, his presence was immediately noticed. Guards clad in silver armor each one of them were at least a the dao integration realm respectfully bowed and ushered him through without delay finally arriving at a grand gall.

Elder Hue entered calmly, his gaze sweeping the room with casual familiarity. The hall itself was vast, with crystal pillars stretching skyward and luminous spirit arrays subtly woven into the walls.

He waited patiently, standing alone amidst the vast hall, his hands clasped behind his back. Servants offered him tea, but he only nodded faintly, declining without a word.

Finally, after a short but tense wait, soft footsteps echoed across the polished marble floor.

A woman entered.

Her beauty was breathtaking, so pure and refined that she seemed untouched by the mortal world. Draped in flowing robes that shimmered like starlight, she moved with an effortless grace, as though she and the surrounding air were one. An ethereal aura, light yet unfathomably deep, cloaked her figure, making her presence feel both near and distant, like a dream half-remembered.

Elder Hue's eyes flickered with admiration—but only briefly. A man of his experience knew better than to let emotions show openly, especially before a figure like her.

Still, inwardly, he couldn't help but offer silent praise: Such peerless elegance... not even the frost of a thousand winters could tarnish her splendor.

The woman, Mi Ling, took a seat opposite him, her expression calm yet faintly curious.

"It is rare to see people of the Dong Clan in these parts."

Elder Hue chuckled warmly, though every word was measured with care.

"Young Miss has a keen sense of humor. Our Dong Clan is scattered far and wide these days—where is it that we haven't left our mark?"

Mi Ling's lips curved into a light smile. "Indeed. Like flowing rivers, some clans find their way to every corner of the world... though few flow into the Heaven Fortune Domain."

Elder Hue inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment. "Ah, the Heaven Fortune Domain is a place of destiny. Not everyone dares to enter, even fewer dare to linger."

There was a subtle meaning behind his words, but Mi Ling only sipped her tea gracefully, letting the words drift by like a passing breeze.

Instead, she tilted her head slightly. "And what brings you here today? Surely it is not just idle wandering."

Elder Hue reached into his robes with slow, deliberate motion and withdrew a delicate jade invitation.

"Today, I come bearing an invitation. The Dong Clan cordially invites you, Young Miss Mi Ling, to a certain grand occasion."

He offered it to her with both hands. Mi Ling accepted the invitation with casual grace, flipping it open and glancing at its contents without much reaction. After a brief moment, she closed it and set it aside and looked back at him indifferently.

"Alliance... secured through marriage. Very traditional."

The words struck Elder Hue like a hidden blade, but his mind was sharp, and he responded without a moment's hesitation.

"Tradition has its wisdom," Elder Hue said. "Even the heavens respect the old ways."

Mi Ling chuckled lightly. "Perhaps. Or perhaps the heavens only respect strength."

Elder Hue gave a noncommittal laugh, neither agreeing nor refuting her words.

"Anything else?" she asked, as though this matter was but a small ripple in her day.

Elder Hue cleared his throat lightly. "If this old one may be so bold... might I inquire how Young Miss became acquainted with Liang?"

At his words, the air seemed to still.

Mi Ling's eyes, deep as the starry sky itself, locked onto his. For a long moment, she simply stared, as if peering into the deepest recesses of his soul. Then, a strange, fleeting smile played at the corners of her lips.

"We are... acquainted."

Seeing Elder Hue remain silent, she added, almost mockingly, "Why? Is the Dong Clan investigating the guest list?"

Elder Hue quickly shook his head, offering a self-deprecating smile. "Not at all, not at all. It's merely... an old man's curiosity."

Mi Ling let out a soft, almost imperceptible laugh. "Curiosity can be dangerous, Elder Hue. Best to keep it restrained."

A slight sheen of coldness passed over her words, though her face remained composed.

At that moment, Elder Hue felt a chill race down his spine, swift and piercing, as if some invisible force had brushed against his very soul.

His instincts warned him that a single misstep here could have consequences far beyond mere embarrassment. Suppressing the ripple of unease within his heart, Elder Hue bowed his head respectfully.

"This one thanks Young Miss for her time and understanding."

Mi Ling inclined her head slightly. "The Starry Sky Alliance always welcomes guests... so long as they know when to leave."

The faint edge hidden within her words was not missed.